JOHNYMAXOFFICIAL

Former Everton player Li Tie has been sentenced to life in prison, according to reports in his native China.

Li, 46, was embroiled in a corruption scandal after publicly admitting that he paid 3 million yuan (£330,000) in bribes in order to manage China's national team. Also in his televised confession on state broadcaster CCTV, the ex-defensive midfielder admitted to taking part in a match-fixing scandal which earned promotions for his club teams.

​

One of the most talented Chinese players of his generation and capped 92 times by his country, Li made 33 appearances for Everton during a loan spell from boyhood side Liaoning in the 2002-03 season. He was then signed permanently by the Toffees in a £1.2million transfer deal and played seven matches the following campaign before breaking his leg on international duty in February 2004.

This led to serious injury problems and despite signing a two-year contract with Sheffield United in 2006, Li only made one appearance for the Blades. He returned to China in 2008 and after retiring from playing three years later, Li embarked on a coaching career which has since been left in disgrace.

​

The 46-year-old has admitted to successfully fixing matches while he was the head coach of Hebei China Fortune and later Wuhan Zall. The Wuhan-based side won promotion from China League One as champions in 2018.

On Friday, reports from China emerged claiming that Li had been sentenced to life in prison, while the former head of the Chinese Football Association, Chen Xuyuan, will serve a 15-year term. Also, current vice-president Du Zhaocai has reportedly been handed a 13-year sentence.

Last month, speaking on live television, Li said: "I'm very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path. "There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football. By gaining 'success' through such improper means, it actually made me more and more impatient and eager for quick results.

​

"In order to achieve good performance, I resorted to influencing referees, bribing opposing players and coaches, sometimes through clubs dealing with other club. This behaviour becomes a habit, and eventually, there is even a slight dependence on these practices."

After Italian boss Marcello Lippi resigned in 2019, Li was appointed manager of the Chinese national team, initially on a caretaker basis before being given the job permanently. After two years in charge, he was replaced by 2002 World Cup teammate Li Xiaopeng.

In November 2022, it was announced that ex-Everton player Li had been placed under investigation for 'serious violation of laws' by China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and their anti-corruption agency.